Decorating on a Limited Budget

Last month, interior designer Gail Doby provided some wonderful tips on how to decorate a new house on a limited budget. Since we recently bought a new house with a main floor in desperate need of a makeover, and to say we have a limited budget would be an understatement, I decided to try some of Gail's suggestions for our dining room. I took a look around our house to see what we already have to work with, and found out that we had more than I thought we did. Then I chose some colors and went to the paint store.

This is what I started with - a dull and boring color, an almost empty room and an old table with a missing chair.




And this is what I ended with. I painted the walls a bright yellow, replaced the missing chair and refinished the table and chairs, and moved an old dresser into the room along with some art that was in another room.




And the total price tag for supplies was under $300 if you can believe it. I still can't get over how much of a difference a few cans of paint and rearranging furniture can make in a room. And it is something anyone can do.


I would still like to change out the art work on the smaller wall. So, I searched the Design Style Guide website and found a few wonderful prints that I think would look great and complete our makeover.


Like this Sleeping Bunting print from Wannabes, Photography by Deborah Brackenbury.




And this Colorful Tulips print from Renie Britenbucher Glass Tapestry Artworks




And this Rooster Print from Torrie Smiley




So get inspired with Design Style Guide website and go makeover your home!

A French Country Style Dining Area

Maybe it's because I've been refinishing my dining room table that I have dining room decor on the brain. I love the French Cottage style and here are some great finds for your French Country Dining Room from a few of the wonderful artisans that are found in Design Style Guide.

I love this Rooster painting. It would add a touch of whimsy to the room.

Young Rooster -- Original Oil Painting From: Jean Levert Hood - Fine Art See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And here is a beautiful cottage style China cabinet and serving buffet to go with the rooster painting above.

Shabby Cottage Style Vintage China Cabinet & Serving Buffet From: Pink Paper Rose See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

This gorgeous vintage chandelier will make dinner sparkle and seem like a special occasion every night.

Vintage Wedding Cake Chandelier From: Sheri See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And here is a nice set of table and chairs. I like the contrast of dark wood with the white paint.

Harvest Dining Table From: Black Mountain Furniture See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

And why not add a bright floral arrangement to add a bit of color to the room.

Rhapsody Floral Arrangement From: Wreathmic Creations See Product Details Sellers Portfolio Sellers Website

Featured Artist - Barbara Furlong

Riverside Escape 282 oil painting

Lilacs & Butterfly #819 oil painting

Poppies original oil painting #809

I'd like to introduce you to a very talented artist named Barbara Furlong. She is a 4-star member on Design Style Guide. Barbara first started doing tole paintings many years ago, but soon found and fell in love with oil painting and has been using oils ever since.

Barbara Furlong not only paints beautiful paintings, but she also teaches painting classes and has done so for several years now. "Barbara took the Bob Ross certifications, times 3. After 360 hours of training she got certified in landscapes, classes from Joyce Ortner, Buck Paulson, Susan Jenkins and soon from Valerie Stewart. She also is certified 4 ways with Donna Dewberry and has taught for Donna in the past at the BEE Painting and Crafting Expo in Florida."

You can see in her paintings, how much she loves doing what she does. The beauty in her work, the soft color palette she chooses, I believe, comes from the heart of a romantic.

Village in Late Summer by Carl Sandburg

Lips half-willing in a doorway.

Wallflower by ArtSnark.

Lips half-singing at a window.

Cat in a Window by Gary Heller Photography.

Eyes half-dreaming in the walls.

Linger by Robin Maria Pedrero.

Feet half-dancing in the kitchen.

Red by Zombie Penguen.

Even the clocks half-yawn the hours

Framed Photograph on Canvas by The Painted Lily.

And the farmers make half-answers.

Cultivating the Peas by Walt Curlee.

Painted Lady

This week it was reported in the UK that we are being invaded by a beautiful butterfly called Painted Lady.

The Painted Lady is a long-distance migrant, which causes the most spectacular butterfly migrations observed in Britain and Ireland.

Each year, it spreads northwards from the desert fringes of North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, across mainland Europe and reaching Britain and Ireland. In some years it is an abundant butterfly, frequenting gardens and other flowery places in late summer. Well, this year, for whatever reason they have decided to come in their droves! We even had one visit us whilst we were sitting in our conservatory reading the Sunday papers. Luckily, we were able to release it back into our garden so that it could fly away to join its mates. Apparently, they thrive on the common Thistle plant which grows in abundance everywhere.

In honour of this beautiful migrant I thought I would search the Design Style Guide team for further examples of butterflies. Here is what I found!

Butterfly Garden Original Oil Painting

by

Luvs2paint

Blue Butterfly on Bevel Suncatcher

by

Sundance Reflections

Colorful Butterfly Window Cling Suncatcher with Stained Glass Effects

by

Clinging Images

Butterfly Pillowcases

by

The Closet and Curio Shop

Embroidered Clock, Floral Garden and Butterflies

by
Satin Stitchery

You can tell I like butterflies, can’t you?

Room With A View - Welcome To My World

Whether your world is big or small, mad or wonderful, it is a wide, wide world in terms of interior design and home decor. Liven up any room in your home with handmade decor featuring coast to coast world and map graphics by the Design Style Guide team on Etsy.

This world map wall decal from rEvolv3r comes in several sizes and colors, and is especially suited to a living room or home office.

Home accessories, such as this custom decoupaged map tray from Carolina's Cottage, are sure to assist your desk or tabletop organization while incorporating visual interest into any decorating style.

This vintage globe turned wall clock from IMOTIME adds dimension, color, and humor to the art of clock-watching.

A black and white topography art pottery bowl from Love Art Works is large enough for showcasing favorite tabletop treasures while allowing the design to shine through.

Handcut and etched copper, over glossy textured red, punches up a representation of the Seattle, Washington area in wall art from Copper Leaf Studios.

Roads Traveled, an original acrylic painting from Fauve Studio, suggests a world map in striking, abstract style.

Functional art, this storage table from Kelly Guswiler Studio displays a Chesapeake Bay, Virginia chart map preserved under polyacrylic, and accented with stained glass mosaic tiling and rain glass doors.

Special Birthday Gifts for Scott

October is a special month for my family as there is 3 of us with October for our Birthday month. Scott and I share the same day, 22nd, and Robert is Halloween, 31th. These items are all from members of Design Style Guide and sell on www.etsy.com

Fun Day At The Beach

www.reniebritenbucher.etsy.com

original painting - 36 x 24

www.MatthewHamblen.etsy.com

Jimmy the Silly Sock Monkey 11 x 14 Print

www.ElegantSnobbery.etsy.com


Freshly faked mini Halloween green cupcakes!
from www.FrostedFakes.etsy.com

Lollipop Rack-Medium

www.Shauneil.etsy.com

I hope you will visit these artists at etsy or at least search for your favorite artists with using the team tag of interiordesignteam the next time you visit etsy. Well I had better get back to painting...you may visit my etsy shop at http://paintwithbarb.etsy.com/ for all types of oil paintings.